About the Work
Grit is that fire-in-the-belly determination that keeps leaders pushing forward when everything (and everyone) is telling them to quit. It’s not just talent or intelligence—it’s resilience, persistence, and the ability to take a metaphorical (or sometimes literal) punch and keep going.
Great leaders don’t just dream big; they grind through setbacks, rejections, budget cuts, and the dreaded email threads that never end. They don’t crumble when a project flops or when a funding bid gets ghosted—they adapt, learn, and come back stronger.
In short? Grit is what separates the “I tried” from the “I made it happen.” It’s the difference between a leader who folds under pressure and one who turns obstacles into fuel. It’s less about raw talent and more about sheer, unstoppable determination.
So, if leadership were a recipe, grit would be the main ingredient—with a side of caffeine and a lot of deep breaths.
-The OG idea behind the work
Firstly, let’s get one thing straight—I hate selfies and headshots. But apparently, putting a “face” to this research is a thing, so here we are. I mean, what image truly screams “Listen up! Let’s talk leadership in the arts!”? No clue. But hello and welcome, friends!
Now, onto the good stuff.
This research isn’t just about theory—it’s about real conversations, real challenges, and (hopefully) real change. Here are the big questions I’m tackling:
🔹 What does “good governance” actually mean? And does it ever go beyond board meetings and buzzwords?
🔹 What unique challenges do female leaders face in the arts? (Spoiler: It’s not just glass ceilings, it’s glass labyrinths.)
🔹 How do we nurture and develop the next generation of cultural leaders? Because talent alone won’t cut it.
🔹 How do we shape policies that uplift, sustain, and empower artists for the long haul? Less red tape, more action.
🔹 What makes a great cultural leader? Vision? Charisma? A talent for surviving budget cuts?
How is the research structured?
📍 Phase One – Interviews & Feedback Gathering
Chatting with CEOs, artists, coordinators, theatre makers, dancers, students, arts admins—you name it. The goal? Interviewing over 80 people from across the sector.
📍 Phase Two – Shadowing & Industry Observations
Getting in the thick of it—observing arts orgs in the North of England, learning from the inside out.
📍 Phase Three – In-Person Learning with Creative Teams
Hosting interactive panels, R&D sessions, open-table discussions, and action-in-play research to keep things hands-on.
📍 Phase Four – Sharing the Findings & Creating Actually Useful Resources
Because research is pointless if it just sits in a Google Drive folder gathering digital dust.
Want to get involved?
Got an idea? A question? A strong opinion? Let’s talk. This research is designed to spark conversation, adapt, and evolve—so if you want to engage with any phase, share your perspective, or just have a good old rant about leadership in the arts, I’m all ears.
Let’s use this funding to our advantage and make shit happen.